Holmesville sewer lines, plant ahead of schedule

These are the phrases used by project representatives who say the Village of Holmesville sanitary sewer and wastewater improvement projects are "going good."

Superintendents representing Walter B. Jones Construction of Wooster and Stanley Miller Construction of East Sparta expressed optimism that both parts of the project, installing the sewer system and constructing the wastewater plant, could be concluded ahead of time.

Dan Stabler, superintendent for Miller Construction Co., said the wastewater treatment plant could be completed and ready for operation as early as November. The project time allowance was for summer or fall 2001. Work began this spring on the plant on the west side of Ohio 83 near the intersection with County Road 45.

The treatment plant is located at creekside in an area that may once have been part of the creek bed, Stabler said. Because the water table, which is close to the surface, made the existing soil unstable for construction, dirt was hauled away "down to the existing sands and gravels," and replaced by fill dirt removed from another site. The replacement soil was tested and approved for compaction, the superintendent said.

"Hopefully, that will be enough" to build up the ground level 9 to 10 feet," he said. The tops of the tanks will project from the ground 1 1/2 to five feet.

As the dirt was removed, water from the construction site, which is part of a flood plain, was pumped into the creek. "Originally, four pumps were put down 40 feet, but, later, we added four more," Stabler said.

The superintendent said the wastewater tanks are scheduled to be set next week. The lowest tank will be poured first in the sludge lagoon and the other tanks will be set in succession, he said. A small blower control building that will house air pressure and other operation equipment will then be built on the site.

Every house in the village will be connected to the sanitary sewer when the project is completed, according to Chuck Shearn, senior project representative for W.E. Quicksall and Associates. The New Philadelphia-based company is consulting engineer for the $2.23 million project.

A second work crew will be added this week and will be working on Taylor Street, which will be closed to traffic by Tuesday or Wednesday, according to Tim Chapman, superintendent for Walter Jones.

The construction company broke ground for the project at the first of the year, and work officially began March 6. Completion is targeted for August 2001. The additional manpower should eventually put the project ahead of schedule, Chapman said.

About 22 percent of the project is completed now that phase four is in progress, he said. Eight-inch main lines are being installed on Millersburg Street in the village. Work will continue across Main Street to the elementary school, then will "drop back" to Main Street and continue between the Millersburg Street intersection and the Main Street/Ohio 83 intersection.

"Various streets or sections of streets will be closed where we are working," Chapman said. "As we close some, others reopen."

Shearn and Chapman commended village residents for their patience and the Quicksall representative warns parents to keep children away from the construction sites where 14- to 18-foot holes are being dug.

"It's going to be a little awkward for a while, but I think people will benefit in the long run," said Sharon Mackey, in her second term on village council. "This is something we've been working on for a very long time and we're finally realizing a goal."

Mayor Dean Dalrymple said people in town have accepted the project well and he has heard few complaints. The only inconveniences reported to him have come after hard rains that caused some sinkholes in streets where sewer lines have been installed.

The construction contract for the sanitary sewer system is $1.22 million. The rural development project is being financed by the Rural Utilities Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

An update on the sewer project will be given during Monday's council meeting at village hall.